The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc logo

The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Toms River, NJ EIN: 45-3988913 Website

The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation is a private foundation based in Toms River, New Jersey. Co-founded in 2013 by Jay and the late Linda Grunin, it provides funding, capacity building, and coalition building to organizations working toward an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore.

Key facts about The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc

In short: The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc gave $5.9M across 109 grants in 2025 (avg $54K), mostly in New Jersey. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
45-3988913
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$5,866,332
Grants made (2025)
109
Average grant
$53,820
Median grant
$25,000
New grantees (estimate)
29% first-time grantees (28 of 97, 2025)
Total assets
$24,617
Primary geography
New Jersey (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The Foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$25K

+17.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$5.9M

-3.0% YoY

Grant Count

109

+26.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$54K

-23.4% YoY

Is The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

29%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 28 of 97 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $80K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.

  • 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Foundation’s mission is to provide holistic support through funding, capacity building, and coalition building to organizations that share its vision of an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore. It has shifted from traditional funding pillars such as arts, education, and healthcare to six outcome focus areas, which it describes as connected to the region’s needs. It also says it aims to provide more general operating support rather than programmatic funding and values partnerships that positively affect communities facing inequities.

The Foundation makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations or organizations fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3). Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of work: Ocean County College Foundation says its mission is to provide student scholarships, awards, loans, and community programs; Interfaith Neighbors says it provides meals, rental and utility assistance, affordable housing, and community development; and Count Basie Theatre describes its mission as fostering inclusive artistic experiences and inspiring, educating, and entertaining through cultural and artistic offerings.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 109 grants totaling $5,866,332. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $651,000, with a median grant of $25,000. The largest grant was $651,000 to Ocean County College Foundation for capital and program support. Other large awards included $500,000 to Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation for capital support, $500,000 to Hackensack Meridian Health for a preceptorship and apprenticeship, and $425,000 to Community Medical Center Foundation for capital support related to its graduate medical education program and foundation.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Foundation describes itself as a place-based funder focused on the Central Jersey Shore, specifically Monmouth and Ocean Counties. In 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey; 9% went to Florida, and 1% each went to New York, Kentucky, and Massachusetts.

Grant Distribution by State

20states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 109 itemized grants.

Cities

Toms RiverRed BankAsbury ParkNew YorkEatontownLong BranchFarmingdaleFreeholdNeptuneNeptune CityPrincetonTrentonBurlingtonBarnegatMercervilleWest Long BranchBrickHazletLakewoodShrewsbury

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M93 grants2019 114 grants2020 77 grants2021 84 grants2022 78 grants2023 86 grants2024 109 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.8M (2019) to $6.2M (2023). In 2025 it made 109 grants totaling $5.9M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Ocean County College Foundation: $651KOcean County CollegeFoundation$651KBoca Raton Regional Hospital Fnd: $500KBoca Raton Regional HospitalFnd$500KHackensack Meridian Health Inc: $500KHackensack Meridian Health Inc$500KCount Basie Theatre Inc: $467K across 2 grantsCount Basie Theatre Inc$467K · 2 grantsCommunity Medical Center Foundation: $425KCommunity Medical CenterFoundation$425KFoodbank of Monmouth Dbafulfill: $225K across 2 grantsFoodbank of MonmouthDbafulfill$225K · 2 grantsChildren's Specialized Hospital: $200KChildren's SpecializedHospital$200KInterfaith Neighbors Inc: $200KInterfaith Neighbors Inc$200KNJ ARTS&CULTURAL Renewal Fund Inc: $200KNJ ARTS&CULTURAL Renewal FundInc$200KYMCA of Greater Monmouth County: $200KYMCA of Greater MonmouthCounty$200K

The largest 2025 recipient was Ocean County College Foundation ($651K). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.

Grant Size Distribution

434 grants across all recorded years

321<$50K42$50–100K34$100–250K15$250–500K22$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 321 grants of 434 (74%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Ocean County College Foundation Toms River, NJCapital SUP(GRUNIN CTR,PAA);PROG Sup$651,000
Boca Raton Regional Hospital Fnd Boca Raton, FLCapital Support$500,000
Hackensack Meridian Health Inc Neptune, NJPCT PRECEPTORSHIP&APPRENTICESHIP$500,000
Community Medical Center Foundation Toms River, NJCapital SUPP(GME Program & Fnd Fund)$425,000
Count Basie Theatre Inc Red Bank, NJCapital Support/Employee Match$266,916
Children's Specialized Hospital Mountainside, NJCapital Support$200,000
Count Basie Theatre Inc Red Bank, NJ10 Yr Endowment Campaign PMT 3 OF10$200,000
Foodbank of Monmouth Dbafulfill Neptune City, NJPMT 2OF5 Comprehensive Campaign Supp$200,000
Interfaith Neighbors Inc Asbury Park, NJCapital Support$200,000
NJ ARTS&CULTURAL Renewal Fund Inc Montclair, NJGrant PMT 1OF2 Gen Operating Support$200,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $24,617 $7,539,910 $7,247,926 $5,866,332
2024 $21,036 $7,076,736 $10,825,937 $6,045,908
2023 $488,456 $7,803,277 $9,243,720 $6,230,161
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$24,617$21,036$488,456
Revenue$7,539,910$7,076,736$7,803,277
Expenses$7,247,926$10,825,937$9,243,720
Qualifying Distributions$5,866,332$6,045,908$6,230,161
Net Investment Income$5,902,082$2,371,113$2,104,007
Distributable Amount—$42,201$27,220

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 21, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Jay Grunin as chairman and Jeremy Grunin as president. It also lists Heather Barberi as executive director; Kelly Fliller as director of communications; and Joshua Grunin, Victoria Marie Fernandez, Rebecca Grunin, Tomas Alvarez, Laurie Goganzer, and Nicole Pulliam as board members.

The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc is led by Heather Barberi, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 11 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Heather Barberi

    Executive Director

    Executive Di → Executive Director, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $169K (2019) → $227K (2025)

  • Jeremy Grunin

    President

    On filings since 2019

    36 hrs/week

    $240K (2024) → $240K (2025)

  • Jay Grunin

    Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    12 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kelly Fliller

    Director Communications

    Communications → Director Communications, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $99K (2021) → $117K (2025)

  • Victoria Marie Fernandez

    Director Communit

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $21K (2022) → $144K (2025)

  • Jaclyn Rodemann

    Director of Opera

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $84K (2024) → $95K (2025)

  • Edward Johnson

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    5 hrs/week

    $3K (2025)

  • Laurie Goganzer

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    5 hrs/week

    $3K (2025)

  • Nicole Pulliam

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    5 hrs/week

    $3K (2025)

  • Tomas Alvarez

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    5 hrs/week

    $3K (2025)

  • Adriana Medina-Gomez

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    5 hrs/week

    $3K (2025)

  • Elizabeth Golla

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    5 hrs/week

    $3K (2025)

  • Joshua Grunin

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rebecca Grunin

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Emma Grunin

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Jeremy Grunin — President: $240KJeremy GruninPresident$240KHeather Barberi — Exec Directo: $227KHeather BarberiExec Directo$227KVictoria Marie Fernandez — DIR Communit: $144KVictoria Marie FernandezDIR Communit$144KKelly Fliller — DIR Communic: $117KKelly FlillerDIR Communic$117KJaclyn Rodemann — DIR of Opera: $95KJaclyn RodemannDIR of Opera$95KTomas Alvarez — Board Member: $3KTomas AlvarezBoard Member$3KLaurie Goganzer — Board Member: $3KLaurie GoganzerBoard Member$3KNicole Pulliam — Board Member: $3KNicole PulliamBoard Member$3KEdward Johnson — Board Member: $3KEdward JohnsonBoard Member$3KAdriana Medina-Gomez — Board Member: $3KAdriana Medina-GomezBoard Member$3KElizabeth Golla — Board Member: $3KElizabeth GollaBoard Member$3K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $240K, to Jeremy Grunin (President). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 432 Lakehurst Road Suite 1, Toms River, NJ 08755
Phone: (732) 244-4010
Website: https://gruninfoundation.org

Frequently asked questions about The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc

How much does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc give each year?

The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc gave $5.9M across 109 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6.0M across 86 grants.

What is The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $53,820, across 109 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc that year got $13K on average.

Where does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc give grants?

The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc gives mostly in New Jersey: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Red Bank, NJ (12 grants), Toms River, NJ (11 grants), Asbury Park, NJ (7 grants) and Newark, NJ (5 grants).

Does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 55% of The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (60 of 109) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Employee Match" (7 grants) and "Capital Support" (4 grants).

Who are The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Ocean County College Foundation ($651,000), Boca Raton Regional Hospital Fnd ($500,000) and Hackensack Meridian Health Inc ($500,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc?

The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc reported $25K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $7.5M.

What does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc fund?

The Foundation’s mission is to provide holistic support through funding, capacity building, and coalition building to organizations that share its vision of an equitable, just, and vibrant Central Jersey Shore. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc?

The Foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3988913. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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